CVE-2021-37851 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-37851 affecting ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Internet Security, and more. Understand the impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
ESET NOD32 Antivirus, ESET Internet Security, ESET Smart Security Premium, and several other ESET products are affected by a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows systems. Users with access to the system can misuse the repair feature of the installer to execute malicious code with elevated privileges.
Understanding CVE-2021-37851
This vulnerability impacts a range of ESET products designed for Windows systems, potentially allowing unauthorized access to critical system functions.
What is CVE-2021-37851?
The CVE-2021-37851 vulnerability enables local users to exploit ESET's repair feature in Windows products, leading to unauthorized execution of malicious code with elevated privileges.
The Impact of CVE-2021-37851
The vulnerability poses a high risk, with a CVSS base score of 7.3, affecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the compromised systems. It requires low privileges to exploit and user interaction is necessary for successful execution.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-37851
This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw allows local users to escalate privileges by leveraging the repair functionality in ESET products on Windows.
Affected Systems and Versions
ESET NOD32 Antivirus, ESET Internet Security, ESET Smart Security Premium, ESET Endpoint Antivirus, ESET Endpoint Security, ESET Server Security, ESET File Security, ESET Mail Security for Exchange Server, ESET Mail Security for IBM Domino, and ESET Security for Microsoft SharePoint Server are vulnerable to CVE-2021-37851.
Exploitation Mechanism
Users logged into the system can exploit the repair feature to run malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting your systems from CVE-2021-37851 is critical to maintaining security.
Immediate Steps to Take
Ensure all affected ESET products are updated to versions that address the vulnerability. Limit user access and monitor system activities for any unusual behavior.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update and patch ESET products to the latest versions. Educate users on safe computing practices to prevent unauthorized system access.
Patching and Updates
Apply patches and security updates provided by ESET promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.